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Collins and CFO David Larcombe will resign June 30. With or without them on board, a spending plan must be passed before then, or a default budget goes in to effect.

Wednesday night parents assembled to get the word out about the $67.4 million budget. The Burlington Friends of Education made signs and set up routes to leaflet. The new budget figure is more than what failed on Town Meeting Day, but includes millions in cuts.

“The number is higher, but quite frankly the number is more accurate but the local impact is less,” said parent Shay Totten. “What we're trying to tell people is it may seem higher, but we're dealing with stuff now that was lingering for 10 years, and we're doing it in a way that's responsible without wholesale cuts across the board that could do some real damage and a 'no' vote would do real damage.”

A "no" vote would mean the default budget, with further budgets would go into effect.

“The default budget is not a default budget, it's a disaster budget,” said Flynn Elementary School Principal Graham Clarke.

While the parents pow-wowed, across town, the school board’s finance committee talked about more reductions. They need to come up with about $1 million in cuts if the new budget fails.

Possible cuts include downsizing the central office staff, asking teachers to spread out negotiated raises over several years and gutting the diversity and equity department.

“Diversity, and inclusion and equity should never ever be on the table for cuts,” said Da Verne Bell, director of diversity education and engagement.

It is ultimately up to voters as to what’s next. The spending plan goes to theballot June 3.

Voters who mailed in absentee ballots on Town Meeting Day will not automatically get absentee ballots for the budget vote.